Method for breaking the cigarette habit



April 22, 1969 R. ALLEN METHOD FOR BREAKING THE CIGARETTE HABIT FiledMarch 14, 1967 li-weeaifioa Haber?) Laiiieaa,

M Mam United States Patent 3,439,685 METHOD FOR BREAKING THE CIGARETTEHABIT Robert L. Allen, Baker Bridge Road, Lincoln, Mass. 01773 FiledMar. 14, 1967, Ser. No. 623,076 Int. Cl. A24b /02; A61k 13/00; A24d 1/18US. Cl. 131-9 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General ofthe Public Health Service, issued in 1964, on

the subject of Smoking and Health, presents the convincing conclusionthat the smoking of tobacco, and more particularly the smoking ofcigarettes, is a health hazard, contributing seriously to the incidenceof lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, other potentially fatalor debilitating afflictions, and systemic disruptions.

The risk of developing lung cancer apparently increases with duration ofsmoking and the number of cigarettes smoked per day, and appears to bediminished by discontinuing smoking.

The Report emphasizes that the uncontrolled smoking of cigarettes is ahabit rather thanaddiction and, therefore, that it can be broken withoutthe characteristic acute abstinence syndrome present upon \m'thdrawalfrom an addiction.

The habitual use of tobacco, the Report says, is primarily related topsychological and social drives, reinforced and perpetuated by thepharmacological actions of nicotine on the central nervous system.Within the habit pattern, the Report recognizes the inducements of oralgratification and the psychogenic compulsions relating to the act ofsmoking. It cites, for instance, (p. 352) the smoker who subconsciouslyreaches into his pocket for a cigarette and may even light his lighterbefore he realizes that he is already holding a lighted cigarette in hislips.

Therefore, because the inducements of the cigarette habit are multiple,the needs of habitual smokers cannot be satisfied by nicotine-freecigarettes alone. Nor, research demonstrates, will smokers, in numbers,be able to break the habit through intravenous or intromuscularadministration of nicotine or by the oral administration of anicotine-substitute such as the drug lobeline.

Clearly, only a method for breaking the habit that considers both thepsychogenic drives of the smoker and the pharmacological effects ofnicotine can succeed. The report acknowledges that the cigarette habitis not easy to break and that (p. 354) ultimate realization of the goalinvolves the firm mental resolve of the individual to stop smoking.

THE OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore, the principal object ofthe present invention to provide a method and means to direct the firmmental resolve of the smoker to action, and to assist him to discontinuecigarette smoking by discouraging further pursuit of that habit. Thediscouragement involves, first, the automatic decreases in thephysiological or pharmacological effect of nicotine on the smokersnervous system, and, second, withering of the social and psychogeniccompulsions by increasing the distasteful effect of the modifiedcigarettes in the series, until both the need and the appeal of thehabit disappear and the determination of the smoker to quit easilyprevails. I

THE INVENTIVE IMPROVEMENT The invention, as described in the foregoingabstract is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing a modifiedcigarette filler, designated as Stage 1 of the aforesaid series;

FIG. 2 is a similar view of a modified cigarette filler, designated asStage 2 of the series;

FIG. 3 is a similar view of a further modified cigarette filler,designated as Stage 3 of the series; and

FIG. 4 is a similar view of a finally modified cigarette filler,designated as Stage 4 of the series.

The cigarette designated Stage 1 has a filter composed of approximatelytwo-thirds, by weight, of tobacco and one-third of a smokable cellulose(of the consistency of shredded facial tissue paper), previously coloredby a non-toxic vegetable dye to simulate the appearance of tobacco; andapproximately 1.5 grams of sucrose octaacetate is distributedsubstantially uniformly through the modified filler, starting about inchfrom the lip-end tip 5 of the cigarette. This spacing is desirablebecause the added ingredient, a white powder is very bitter to the tasteon contact. In the first three cigarettes of the series, the bittertaste is transmitted through the cigarette in its smoke. It is apparentthat other bitter tasting ingredients may be used in place of thepreferred sucrose octaacetate.

The second cigarette of the series preferably has a filler compound ofone-half tobacco and one-half cellulose, with 3.0 grams of sucroseoctaacetate distributed through the filler, starting inch from the tip5.

The third stage of the series preferably has a filler composed ofone-quarter tobacco and three-quarters of said cellulose, plus 3.5 gramsof sucrose octaacetate distributed uniformly throughout the cigarette,again starting inch from the tip.

The fourth stage of the series has a filler composed of of saidcellulose throughout its length, with no tobacco component, but withapproximately 4.5 grams of sucrose octaacetate distributed evenlythroughout the length of the cigarette. The bitter substance is,therefore, transmitted by contact and in smoke.

In the drawings, the tobacco particles are indicated by relatively lightlines 6, the particles of cellulose by relatively heavy lines 7, and theparticles of the bitter powder by small circles 8; but these indicationsare diagrammatic.

It will be apparent that the modified cigarettes may have the commonform of applied tip of cork or other sheet material, and that the bittertasting ingredient may be incorporated in such tip or even in thecigarette paper; if such tip is not employed. In either case, the tastewould be transmitted on contact with the lips of the smoker.

As stated above, in carrying out my method, the four stages of themodified cigarettes are to be smoked in the prescribed order: Stage 1,then Stage 2, then Stage 3 and finally Stage 4. It is recommended that,for heavy cigarette smokers the Stage 1 modification be smoked for aperiod of 3 weeks; Stage 2 for a period of 2 weeks; Stage 3 for a periodof 1 week; and Stage 4 for a few days, until the desire for smokingabates completely. However, such time periods will depend upon the needsof the individual, and will be materially reduced or increased in manyinstances.

The smokers nicotine ingestion is gradually reduced, both by the designof the cigarettes and because, owing to their bitter taste, he willsmoke the cigarettes less fully than is usual.

Because recidivism is prevalent among former smokers, stage fourcigarettes will be important as a temporary refuge when resolve weakens.

The use of the method and of the modified cigarettes herein describedwill be found to be a simple and effective way of breaking the cigarettesmoking habit by reinforcing the mental resolve of the smoker to quitfor the sake of his health, if for no other reason, and by creating adisinclination to continue smoking.

It is apparent that cigarettes in the series may be further modified andthat, in number, cigarettes may be added to and subtracted from theseries.

It is recognized that smoke is abhorred by the human system and,therefore, that no smoke now known can be called harmless. The clearpurpose of this invention, therefore, is for the smoker to cease allsmoking as soon as possible-including the cigarettes provided in thisinvention.

I claim:

1. A method of breaking the cigarette smoking habit which comprisesproviding a series of special cigarettes to be smoked in a prescribedsuccession; the fillers of the successive cigarettes being modified byprogressively reducing their respective nicotine content by reducing thequantity of the tobacco charge therein and substituting 5 and smokingthe said series of cigarettes in the indicated sequence until the desirefor smoking abates completely. 2. In the method of claim 1 in which thebitter tasting ingredient is sucrose octaacetate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,746,890 5/1956 Legler 131-9FOREIGN PATENTS 702,920 2/1965 Canada.

OTHER REFERENCES King Size Filter, from p. 32 Mad Magazine, June 1964.Cure of the Tobacco Habit, from Tobacco Experi- 20 mental and ClinicalStudies (text), Larson, Haag and Silvette, published by The Williams &Wilkins Co., 1961, pp. 540-547.

MELVIN D. REIN, Primary Examiner.

